Bookkeeping Software I have used Quickbooks for about 15 years and have generally been happy with it. About 20 clients also now use it and despite none of them having any bookkeeping background they have all coped with it with a greater or lesser degree of help. The main criticism I would have is that it has expanded in complexity over the years as Intuit have tried to aim it at larger companies and so build in ever more functionality. Some of this is of dubious value to the small business user. It has also become much more expensive although the basic Simplestart version might be enough for your needs and is cheap enough. The good news is that there is a 60 day money back guarantee if you want to try it.
I have used VT for accounts prep but not for bookkeeping. I stopped using it a couple of years ago because I felt it wasn't helpful enough in terms of accounts content and I had concerns about how current the templates were.
I also suggest you look at Microsoft Office Accounting. There is a free version which certainly seems to have most of the things one might want but even the full blown version is only £150. I am considering giving this a try for a second business I run but have yet to make the jump.
There were two 'Wake on' events enabled in the Bios and disabling them seems to have done the trick though it may be early days to be certain.
So now I wonder why it has only recently happened as I certainly haven't been into the Bios since I bought the PC and anti-virus and anti-spyware etc. haven't reported anything.
VAT 700/1 David Bodycombe is correct - no matter what advice may come from a telephone call (and the poor level of knowledge of many staff who man these lines has been the subject of recent discussion)the answer has been in the VAT 700/1 publication forever. While waiting for your VAT number issue a pro-forma invoice including, but not mentioning VAT, and send out a proper VAT invoice as soon as the registration is received. It does make sense to include a phrase such as "VAT registration applied for" on the pro-forma invoice.
No explanation No, John, no explanation other than there is a manual input process which isn't complete. There was no attempt at this stage to verify that what I was saying was true or otherwise.
Business valuers I would find it really helpful if Graham could provide details of the firm he mentions. I haven't been able to find anyone offering this for a sensible price.
I also concur with the sentiment that it would be unwise to think this can be done casually. Surely, it is also missing an potential opportunity to undervalue goodwill, even if some tax is payable.
My answers
Many thanks for all the help.
Andy Todd
The accounting date isn't changing - 31 October.
The accounting date isn't changing - 31 October.
Bookkeeping Software
I have used Quickbooks for about 15 years and have generally been happy with it. About 20 clients also now use it and despite none of them having any bookkeeping background they have all coped with it with a greater or lesser degree of help. The main criticism I would have is that it has expanded in complexity over the years as Intuit have tried to aim it at larger companies and so build in ever more functionality. Some of this is of dubious value to the small business user. It has also become much more expensive although the basic Simplestart version might be enough for your needs and is cheap enough. The good news is that there is a 60 day money back guarantee if you want to try it.
I have used VT for accounts prep but not for bookkeeping. I stopped using it a couple of years ago because I felt it wasn't helpful enough in terms of accounts content and I had concerns about how current the templates were.
I also suggest you look at Microsoft Office Accounting. There is a free version which certainly seems to have most of the things one might want but even the full blown version is only £150. I am considering giving this a try for a second business I run but have yet to make the jump.
Spooky PC
Thanks, Neil.
There were two 'Wake on' events enabled in the Bios and disabling them seems to have done the trick though it may be early days to be certain.
So now I wonder why it has only recently happened as I certainly haven't been into the Bios since I bought the PC and anti-virus and anti-spyware etc. haven't reported anything.
I'll probably never know.
VAT 700/1
David Bodycombe is correct - no matter what advice may come from a telephone call (and the poor level of knowledge of many staff who man these lines has been the subject of recent discussion)the answer has been in the VAT 700/1 publication forever. While waiting for your VAT number issue a pro-forma invoice including, but not mentioning VAT, and send out a proper VAT invoice as soon as the registration is received. It does make sense to include a phrase such as "VAT registration applied for" on the pro-forma invoice.
No explanation
No, John, no explanation other than there is a manual input process which isn't complete. There was no attempt at this stage to verify that what I was saying was true or otherwise.
Business valuers
I would find it really helpful if Graham could provide details of the firm he mentions. I haven't been able to find anyone offering this for a sensible price.
I also concur with the sentiment that it would be unwise to think this can be done casually. Surely, it is also missing an potential opportunity to undervalue goodwill, even if some tax is payable.